Volume 4: Golden State Prosperity

"Ha, yeah. Who would've thought that the Cavaliers, a team that made the Finals, could lose by 30 points? It's so satisfying. Serves them right for eliminating the Pacers..." Mark Baum still had not gotten over his "grudge" over the Cavaliers knocking out the Pacers in the first round, and he spoke with great satisfaction. "Fine, then let's give it a try. At worst, it's just an unconventional investment. We successfully shorted subprime mortgages, the yen, and the hryvnia—how hard could this be?" Fans were not so forgiving toward a star without a championship, especially since James had once looked poised to contend for the title of the league's best player and chase Jordan. And it was not just outside criticism; discordant voices had also emerged within the Cavaliers. "Ronan, why aren't you preparing for the next game? What did you need me for?" The day after Warriors-Cavaliers Game 1, online discussion continued to ferment. He knew Zhang Yu's habits. Unless there was a break between series, Zhang Yu was always wholly focused on the games and rarely let anything distract him. Yesterday, Mark had sat beside the Warriors' bench and personally witnessed the Warriors slaughter the Cavaliers, leaving him in an excellent mood. "James's stats looked good. He nearly had a triple-double, but at the same time, he let the man he was guarding score 37 points. I'm taking back the vote I gave him in the All-NBA selection. Leonard deserved First Team All-NBA more." June 6. Zhang Yu laid it all out calmly while Mark Baum listened closely, his expression gradually turning serious. By the time Zhang Yu finished, every trace of a smile had vanished from Mark's face, replaced by an incomparably grave look. Mark Baum was stunned. Over the past two years, James's defensive focus during